Local townspeople, Iraqi and American officials joined together March 8 to mark the opening of the new Al Jumhoury Primary Healthcare Clinic in Diwaniyah.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Abdulameer al-Obaidy, Diwaniyah’s director general of health, thanked the local Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division (GRD), and the Iraqi contractor for their efforts in building such a quality facility.

Ahmed A. Razak, a senior Iraqi deputy resident engineer with GRD, pointed out that the state-of-the-art clinic includes four doctors’ offices with adjoining exam rooms, two dental exam rooms, an x-ray room, a laboratory, a pharmacy, two treatment rooms, and a classroom. “It is designed to provide basic medical care for this neighborhood’s 15,000 residents, and offers advanced diagnostic and monitoring capabilities for acute and chronic illnesses,” Razak added.

“Building this clinic took cooperation, courage and resolve, especially on the part of those Iraqis who helped design the project, oversaw its construction, and did the hard work of building it,” said Michael Klecheski, the team leader for Diwaniyah’s PRT.

“Constructing facilities such as this one required a partnership between Iraq and the United States,” Klecheski added. “May this clinic always stand as a symbol of what working together can accomplish.”

Throughout Iraq, GRD has completed and turned over 132 primary healthcare clinics to the Iraqi Ministry of Health. The PHCs have the capacity to treat 4.6 million outpatients annually.

MNF-I
By Alicia Embrey
Gulf Region South district

Bronze Star with V device for valor

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey D. Moe, 2nd Bn., 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device on Feb. 20. Moe heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the June 3, 2007 in Diwaniyah, Iraq. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael R. Noggle)

In front of Soldiers from his unit, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Moe spoke briefly about the night of June 3, 2007.

“I just thank God we made it out of there alive,” said the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) linguist.

More than 17 months later, Moe received the Bronze Star with Valor Device from Col. William H. Shaw III, 10th SFG(A) deputy commanding officer, at the McMahon Theater on Feb. 20.

Moe served as an assistant team sergeant supporting a Special Forces Operational Detachment–Alpha and members from the 8th Iraqi Army. Their mission was to capture or kill a targeted individual in Diwaniyah, Iraq.

While conducting the mission, the entire element was engaged in a firefight with more than 100 members of an insurgent force who massed during the night.

“We started taking fire in all directions when these insurgents showed up,” Moe said. “It threw me back; one of the Iraqi soldiers was killed. It got scary really quick.”

After completing his task, Moe began assisting in securing the area and preventing the enemy from maneuvering on the ODA.

During the firefight, a sniper team moved out in advance of the forward line of troops in order to engage enemy rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun positions. After engaging the target, the sniper team was trapped while one member of their team was severely wounded. The team attempted to evacuate themselves back to the friendly troops but was unable due to accurate and persistent enemy fire.

In order to provide covering fire for the movement of the trapped team, Moe voluntarily stepped directly in to the line of enemy fire and began suppressive fire on the enemy position.

“I just wanted to do the right thing and help my fellow Soldiers out,” Moe explained. “I didn’t think too much about it, I just reacted. I knew things were getting pretty thick and they needed help to get out.”

Despite rounds of small arms fire impacting inches from his head and being shot in the right leg, Moe continued to place effective fire on the enemy until the sniper team was safely under cover.

His courage and selflessness allowed the sniper team to move to a secured position where the wounded sniper could receive immediate medical treatment and be evacuated out of the area.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about that day,” said the emotional staff sergeant. “I thank God that he prevented more people from getting killed or hurt. I hope I did the right thing, and I’m happy all those guys made it out alive.”

USASOC
By Staff Sgt. Michael R. Noggle
10th SFG(A) Public Affairs